Remote Weather Station

Weather Stations

GROUP 9

Contents

Matthew JagdeosinghRashad Ali-Khan Chris Ramadeen Roshan Rampersad Josh Mohammed

Home

Micro Controller

Data Acquistion System

Powering the System

Sensors

Communication Methods

Wireless Comm. Interfaces

Communication Protocols

Components of Comm. Protocol

Characteristics of Comm. Standards

Quiz

Communication Standards

Big Data Analysis

Temperature Sensors

• Temperature sensors for the atmosphere measure the air's warmth that surrounds them.• Various technologies can be used for temperature sensors, such as thermocouples, infrared devices or RTDs, and thermistors. • Different types of sensors produce electrical signals that could be in voltage, resistance, or digital form, which are then converted into temperature readings. • Temperature sensors are important for climate monitoring, controlling HVAC systems, and accurate weather forecasting.

Humidity Sensors

• Humidity sensors measure the amount of water vapor in the air. • Various technologies can be used for humidity sensors, such as capacitive, resistive, and thermal conductivity sensors. • Different types of sensors produce electrical signals that could be in resistance or capacitance value, which are then converted into humidity readings as a percentage of the maximum humidity. • Humidity sensors are important for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and HVAC control applications due to their impact on human comfort, plant growth, and industrial processes.

BAROMETRIC PRESSURE Sensors

• Barometric pressure sensors measure the pressure of the air in the environment. • Various technologies can be used for barometric pressure sensors, such as mercury, aneroid, and electronic sensors. • Barometric pressure sensors are important for weather forecasting, aviation, and industrial applications due to their ability to indicate changes in weather patterns, altitude, and other environmental conditions.

Rainfall Sensors

• Rainfall sensors, also known as rain gauges, measure the amount of precipitation that falls in a specific location over a period of time. • Different technologies can be used for rainfall sensors, such as tipping bucket, weighing, and optical sensors. • Rainfall sensors are important for weather forecasting, agriculture, and hydrology applications due to their ability to measure precipitation and its impact on crop growth, water availability, and flood risks.

WIND SPEED Sensors

• Wind speed sensors measure the speed of wind in the environment. • Different technologies such as cup, vane, and ultrasonic sensors can be used to detect changes in wind speed. • Wind speed sensors are critical in weather forecasting, aviation, and marine applications, as wind speed can affect the safety of flights, navigation of ships, and the development of weather patterns.

WIND direction Sensors

• Wind direction sensors measure the direction from which the wind is blowing. • They use various technologies such as vane, ultrasonic, and magnetic sensors to detect changes in wind direction. • Wind direction sensors provide readings in degrees or cardinal directions such as north, south, east, and west. • They are critical in weather forecasting, aviation, and marine applications as wind direction affects the safety of flights, navigation of ships, and the development of weather patterns.

solar radiation Sensors

• Solar radiation sensors measure the amount of solar radiation that reaches a particular location on the earth's surface. • The sensors use various technologies such as thermopiles, photodiodes, and silicon cells to detect changes in solar radiation. • Solar radiation sensors are critical in solar energy applications, agriculture, and climate research, as solar radiation can affect crop growth, energy production, and climate patterns.

em radiation Sensors

• Radiometers measure electromagnetic radiation in a particular range of wavelengths or frequencies. • Radiometers use various technologies such as thermopiles, photodiodes, and bolometers to detect changes in electromagnetic radiation. • Radiometers are used in various applications, such as monitoring radiation levels in nuclear power plants, measuring the output of solar panels, and studying the properties of electromagnetic radiation in space.

soil temperature Sensors

• Soil temperature sensors are used to measure soil temperature at a specific depth. • They use different technologies such as thermistors, thermocouples, and resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) to detect changes in soil temperature. • Soil temperature sensors are critical in agriculture and environmental applications as soil temperature affects plant growth, soil microorganism activity, and soil-based ecosystems.

soil moisture Sensors

• Soil moisture sensors measure water content in the soil using various technologies like capacitance, TDR, and gypsum block sensors. • Soil moisture sensors are critical in agricultural and environmental applications as soil moisture content affects plant growth, soil microorganisms, and soil-based ecosystems.

geographical position Sensors

• Geographical Position Sensor use signals from satellites such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou to determine the receiver's location and altitude. • A minimum of four satellites is used to determine the position and altitude of the receiver through trilateration. • The electrical signal produced by GNSS receivers is a digital signal containing information about the receiver's position, altitude, and velocity. • The signal can be used for navigation systems in vehicles, mapping software, and location-based services on smartphones.

date and time Sensors

• Sensors that measure date and time use quartz crystal oscillator to produce a stable and precise electrical signal with known frequency. • The real-time clock (RTC) module is a specialized integrated circuit used to measure date and time, which includes a quartz crystal oscillator, a clock/calendar circuit, and a small battery to maintain the timekeeping function. • The electrical signal produced by the RTC module is typically a digital signal containing information about the date and time, which can be used by various applications, such as data loggers, control systems, and alarm systems, to keep track of time and synchronize activities.

data acquisition system

• The system contains 3 modules: Data collection, Data transmission and Data storage •Each module contains a microcontroller that accepts data. •Data collection module collects data accepts information from all the sensors, analog and digital. •The information is then sent to the data storage module where the microcontroller sends the information to the SD card for backup storage. •In the data transmission module, the information is accepted into the microcontroller and is send via a GSM Modem to the receiving host via cell towers.

microcontroller

• This system uses the PIC18F452 Microcontroller •It is an 10 bit Microprocessor • Has 8 input channels for each of the sensors used • Contains a built in ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) • Is relatively cheap and easy to manipulate • Sends data/information to the GSM Modem as well as the SD card for external backup storage.

powering the system off-grid

Different approaches to power the digital weather stations dispersed across high schools in Trinidad and Tobago can be taken. Factors to take into consideration are: • cost (considering a low-cost system is required to achieve), • reliability in the product's functionality • efficiency in the power system

powering the system off-grid

Battery bank powered by an inexpensive solar panel: Collection of batteries that are wired to store electrical made in conjunction with a solar panel which generates the electricity. How to set up battery bank: i. Determine your power requirements. ii. Choose your solar panel. iii. Select the battery bank. iv. Install solar panel. v. Connect the solar panel to the charge controller. Connect battery bank to an inverter.

powering the system off-grid

Low-Cost Solar Panels: A solar panel is designed to absorb the sun’s rays as a source of energy for generating electricity of heating. We utilized polycrystalline solar panels since they are highly efficient and cheaper compared to other alternatives.

powering the system off-grid

Lightning And Grounding Protections The lightning and grounding protection can be incorporated into the weather system design by implementing lighting rods/terminals. The rods would be connected to the conductor of the system. When the current hits the lightning rods, it follows the low resistance path toward the ground as opposed to other equipment. The grounding system can be implemented by installing grounding rods and plates deep into the ground via the lightning rods. The ground rods would be made up of either copper or steel and assist in providing the low resistance path.

types of communication

Wired Wired communication is the use of any physical link that can carry data in the form of signals. Wireless Wireless communication occurs when signals are transmitted through the air in the form of Electromagnetic signals.

types of wired communication

Twisted Pair Advantages: Low cost Readily available Easy to install Low interference Disadvantages: Limited Range

types of wired communication

Coaxial Cable Advantages: High band width Low signal loss Low interference Durability Disadvantages: High cost Thick cables Limited flexibility

types of wired communication

Fiber Optic Cable Advantages High Bandwidth Secure Reliable Disadvantages: Expensive Limited range Fragile

types of wireless communication

WiFi Advantages: Good Coverage High-speed data transfer Low cost Compatible with a variety of infrastructure Disadvantages: Limited Range Interference from physical objects Not secure

types of wireless communication

Radio Advantages: Low cost Can be used in remote areas Wide range Disadvantages:
 Limited bandwidth Interferes with other frequencies Low security

types of wireless communication

Satellite Advantages: Global coverage High bandwidth Reliable Disadvantages: Expensive High latency Limited capacity

types of wireless communication

Microwave Advantages : High bandwidth Reliable Low cost Disadvantages: Transmitters and receivers need to be at line of sight Interference from other frequencies Limited distance

types of wireless communication

Microwave Advantages : High bandwidth Reliable Low cost Disadvantages: Transmitters and receivers need to be at line of sight Interference from other frequencies Limited distance

types of wireless communication

Cellular Advantages: Mobility Wide coverage Reliability Disadvantage: Limited bandwidth High traffic Limited range

WIRELESS Communication Interfaces

In communication engineering, "wireless" refers to communication without the use of wires over any distance from a millimeter to a vast deep space. In consideration of the weather system, varying factors must be accounted for are: • power consumption, • reliability • range.

LoRaWAN

LoRaWAN is a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) protocol designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It is a wireless communication protocol that uses LoRa (short for Long Range) modulation technology to enable long-range communications at low power. The benefits of using LoRaWAN: - • Transmit data up to several kilometers. • Can function with low amount of power consumption. • LoRaWAN are relatively inexpensive.

modulation techniques

1) LoRa: provide the weather system a spectrum modulation over long-range communication. 2) Phase Shift Keying (PSK) or Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying (GFSK): Transfer data between devices regarding aspects of the weather station (Coll 2023). The access schemes that will be used are: - 1) Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA): Allocate time divisions for the weather devices to share a communication channel.

Antennas

The function of the antenna is to convert electrical energy into electromagnetic energy. This energy is radiated in all directions. Some possible candidates for the weather station antennas are: - 1) Yagi Antenna 2) Helical Antenna

Transceivers

In the context of a weather system, a transceiver refers to a device that can both transmit and receive data wirelessly.

communication protocols

Communication protocols are the formats and rules in place for the formal exchange of messages from one computer system to another. • Protocols for service-oriented communication. These protocols are used for reading and writing access to entries of a (remote) device object dictionary. They make use of Service Data. • Protocols for (real-time) data transfers. These protocols make use of Process Data. • Special Object Protocols, including Synchronization (SYNC), Time stamps, and Emergency (EMCY) Protocols.

components of communication protocols

communication standards

The rules, operating procedures, and methods that are intended to standardize the flow of specific information and raw data among electronic devices, systems, or networks are defined by communication standards. Institutions such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) are pioneers of normalization and technological specification. Interoperability entails that systems and devices of differing manufactures and types all act flawlessly irrespective of design. Equipment cost depends on the type of equipment required to satisfy the communication standards The simplicity of technology adoption in terms of communication standards simply refers to how quickly a new standard or set of rules may be put into place while also being influenced by compatibility, complexity, and previous standards with regard to communication technologies. The ease of technology access ensures communication standards are available to anyone whenever it is needed, that is, urgently or within reasonable time.

characteristics of communication standards

There are three main communication characteristics that are implemented to form the conventional standards: Functionality necessitates the practices that must be accomplished by the communication structure to ensure the system performs properly, and the message clarity is upheld Electrical features highlight the voltage amplitudes, the speed the signal travels and how efficiently it is passed through the medium without prohibitions The physical properties that carry out the functionality and electrical qualities are referred to as mechanical characteristics such as dimensions, mass, and specifications of the hardware involved in the communication process. The standardized weather system will make it possible for Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Public Utilities to transport data to and from the National Meteorological System without interruption. Users can get extremely consistent findings by comparing weather data to get more precise temperature and humidity results. Internet Protocols and Hypertext Transfer Protocol are the key communication protocols that must be employed because they are both in charge of handling data movement over the internet. Moreover, ISO 27001 and IEEE 802.11 should be employed to construct wireless local area networks and secure data transfer through systems, respectively.

big data analysis

Big Data Analysis or Analytics is a data breakdown technique used to predict trends and record patterns or reoccurring phenomena by collecting large amounts of data in a continuous flow. It is accurate to say that a network of weather stations would be a candidate for Big Data Analysis as these structures are continuously collecting complex datasets that require professional techniques and expert interpretation Big Data Analysis utilizes specially made software protocols and procedures to identify a large amount of correlation and proportionality data to make future prediction outcome. Machine Learning techniques involves and Artificial Intelligence Entity that employs statistical models to allow devices to learn and interpret without the need to manually be programmed. Data Mining techniques is the process of discovering trends and relationships among complex as well as large dataset similar to Machine Learning whereby irregularities can also be determined Predictive Analysis techniques uses machine learning to analyze the history of examined data and make predictions about potentially catastrophic equipment failures and forecasted or upcoming trends Algorithms include decision trees that are a graphical representation of a collection of factors and how they affect certain outcomes by categorizing the data based on the multivariable inputs Neural networks are an algorithm where the model is similar to a human brain where there is a sequential feed of data from node to node where a mathematical implication is performed before each transition The result of the clustering algorithm, is used to group similar dataset structures where their properties are aligned with one another. However, if the data is different from or not aligned with the data cluster, an anomaly can be found. Rule mining is used to find interesting relationships or patterns within the dataset. Through a status of causes and effects, it determines what likely occurrences are occurring simultaneously.

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